I arrived at the spot where Camila had asked to meet me, outside the building near a training field. I spotted her from a distance.
She was standing at the edge of the field, under the shade of a massive tree. Arms crossed, her piercing gaze and tense posture betrayed an unmistakable impatience.
As soon as she saw me approaching, her sharp eyes locked onto mine.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she snapped, her tone cold and accusatory.
She stepped toward me, her presence imposing despite her slender frame.
"You… followed me? You knew exactly where I was going all along, didn't you?"
I raised an eyebrow, more amused than annoyed.
"You're the one who asked me to come here."
Her eyes narrowed, her suspicious expression hardening.
"Cut the innocent act. You really think I'm going to buy that crap? It's too many coincidences. We just happen to bump into each other, exchange contacts, and now, surprise, we end up at the same academy? Seriously? You expect me to believe that?"
'Damn, she's not letting this go...'
I sighed before replying.
"Look, I know it seems sketchy, but it's honestly pure coincidence. I'm not some master strategist pulling everyone's strings. What do you think—that I planned all this from the start?"
She let out a dry laugh, clearly unconvinced.
"And what about your reaction during the roll call? You had zero reaction when the professor said my name. You were so indifferent it was suspicious!"
'...'
I shrugged, adopting a more confident tone.
"That's normal because I'd already seen you before. During the teleportation to the academy, I noticed you were in the group just ahead of mine. You didn't see me, but I saw you. So when I heard your name, it didn't surprise me."
She raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"And that's supposed to explain what? For all I know, you could've planned this since Grelin City."
I stepped a bit closer, meeting her gaze head-on.
"Are you serious right now? Do you really think I manipulated every single detail? Have you forgotten that you're the one who approached me first? You wanted a lighter for your cigarette. If you hadn't done that, I would've just walked past you, and we wouldn't even be here."
She opened her mouth to retort, but I didn't give her the chance.
"And let's be real, you probably looked me up after we exchanged contacts. I know you're not the type to let things slide. So, with everything you must've found about me, do you honestly believe I'd have the desire or resources to manipulate anyone? Especially you?"
Camila remained silent, her jaw clenched.
"Face it. Yes, it maybe sounds crazy. But if you're as smart as you claim to be, you know it adds up. All you're doing is finding excuses to doubt me."
She narrowed her eyes, clearly unsettled.
'Maybe he's lying… But nothing he said is impossible. So why do I still have this feeling?'
Seeing her silence, I sighed and shrugged.
"Believe whatever you want. I don't care. But honestly, isn't it a good thing we're at the same academy? We could turn this into an advantage, don't you think?"
Her brows furrowed slightly before she sighed.
"Yeah… Let's just say that works out for you. Especially with that potion project of yours."
I smirked, satisfied.
"Oh, come on. You know it could be a great opportunity for you too. It's not just any potion — it's going to be groundbreaking. You'll see."
She rolled her eyes, exasperated, running a hand through her hair.
"Yeah, yeah, we'll see… Anyway, we've got physical training now. Are you just going to stand there?"
I blinked, momentarily caught off guard, before remembering the schedule.
"Right... I almost forgot. Alright, I'm coming."
She didn't respond and turned on her heel, heading toward the assigned training field. As I followed her, I felt her gaze linger on me for a brief moment, as though she was still trying to figure me out.
After a few seconds, she let out a loud sigh and continued walking without a word.
***
The session had been going on for a while now. The vast training field resembled a battlefield. Everywhere, students lay sprawled on the ground, exhausted, their bodies drenched in sweat. Their chests heaved frantically as they struggled to catch their breath.
I was among them, on my knees, head hanging low, desperately trying to suck in air. My throat burned, my muscles screamed, and my clothes, clinging to my damp skin, felt almost as heavy as my body at this point.
Around me, the few who were still standing continued running laps. But even they weren't in much better shape: their faces were flushed, their steps heavy, and their breathing ragged. They were running on pure instinct, driven by pride and sheer willpower.
Well… except for two people.
Rowan and Maelys.
Those two seemed untouchable. While the rest of the class collapsed one by one, they kept running, their gazes fixed straight ahead. Rowan maintained a steady, almost serene pace. Maelys, on the other hand, moved with an almost effortless grace, her strides perfectly balanced. Not a hint of exhaustion showed on their faces, save for a few beads of sweat on their foreheads.
Camila, who had stopped running a few minutes earlier, shot me a mocking glance.
"Already out of breath?" she teased, her tone sharp as she casually wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.
Despite her undeniable talent for theoretical disciplines, Camila was far from weak when it came to physical activities. Her current performance ranked among the best in the class, and her mastery of both domains made her a formidable presence.
I let out a tired groan, collapsing onto my back and staring up at the clear sky above.
"Shut up… And remind me why we're torturing ourselves like this on the first day?" I grumbled between labored breaths.
A student next to me tried to laugh at my remark, but it quickly turned into an uncontrollable coughing fit. I couldn't blame him. The intensity of this session was beyond anything I could've imagined, even knowing the details from the novel. Reading about challenges was one thing — living through them was another entirely.
In the distance, Instructor Marcus showed no hint of mercy. He watched those still running, hands clasped behind his back, like a general surveying his troops. His smug smirk made it clear what he thought of our 'performance'.
It had been nearly two hours of running around the massive field — a grueling task on its own. But as if that wasn't enough, he'd imposed two simple rules: no using mana and an increased gravity to make every step more punishing. The effort was inhuman, and yet, our results were being evaluated.
Luckily, my already somewhat trained body had kept me going until now. Without it, I'd probably have joined the first group to collapse after just a few laps.
"You call this training?! Even children could do better! Get up, you worms! The real test starts now!" Marcus barked, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.
I raised my head slightly, incredulous. Camila, still sitting beside me, muttered a curse under her breath, just as drained as I was.
"He's joking, right…?" I managed to gasp, barely believing what I'd heard.
She didn't reply, but the dark look in her eyes spoke volumes.
Thankfully, to our immense relief, another instructor approached Marcus and whispered something in his ear. After a brief exchange, he raised his hand to demand our attention.
"Well, that's it for today. You're dismissed. But remember, this was just the warm-up! Rest well, because tomorrow you'll regret not taking this seriously!"
A collective sigh of relief swept through the group, but no one had the energy to celebrate. I wanted to feel relieved too, but at that moment, all I could focus on was the pain in my legs and the unbearable weight of my own body.
***
The walk back to my dorm felt like another ordeal, but now that I could use mana again and wasn't weighed down by enhanced gravity, it was manageable.
As I approached the building, ready to collapse into my bed and forget this hellish day, a figure caught my attention. A girl stood near the entrance, her back to me. Her long, silver-gray hair cascaded down her shoulders. Her uniform marked her as a first-year student, just like me.
I heard her mumbling to herself, as if thinking out loud.
"So, this is the place…?" she said softly, almost inaudibly.
I chose to ignore her, too exhausted to pay anyone attention. I walked past her, ready to head inside, but something made me stop dead in my tracks.
As I passed her, she turned slightly, and my eyes locked onto hers. Crimson red. Blood red.
For a split second, I felt my heart stop. Her silver hair and red eyes were unmistakable traits of the Silvaris family. But there was a problem.
Elric Silvaris doesn't have a sister.